[Pointing to your own face isn’t exactly clear communication! Would you do that to your father and then call him stupid?]
I left his office simmering with frustration.
In the bathroom mirror, I saw my cheeks flushed a deep red, as if I’d been drinking wine all afternoon.
How petty could Alpha Sebastian be?
Just because I accidentally sent him a message that made him feel mocked, did he really have to get back at me by embarrassing me multiple times?
Author
At the 10:30 meeting, Celina’s only task was to take notes.
Beta Sawyer managed everything else-from sending out notifications to preparing materials for the executives.
He had thoughtfully considered that it was Celina’s first day and that with the meeting scheduled so soon after her arrival, she wouldn’t yet be familiar enough with the content to handle more responsibility.
That was why he assigned her to coffee duty instead.
His intentions were genuinely considerate.
By noon, Alpha Sebastian had arranged a business lunch with a prominent real estate tycoon who had personally invited him.
The Silver Peak Pack had been involved in real estate for years, and both parties were collaborating on a resort project.
The contract for this development had been signed before Sebastian became Alpha, back when his father, Alpha Yardley, was still leading the pack.
The tycoon was an old friend of Alpha Yardley-almost like an uncle figure-so when he requested a meeting, Alpha Sebastian agreed without hesitation.
The lunch had originally been scheduled several days earlier, but had been postponed due to Alpha Sebastian’s injury.
Alpha Sebastian brought Celina and Beta Sawyer along to the restaurant.
Upon entering the private dining room, they were met not only by Remy and his secretary but also Wiley, Silver Peak’s Vice President, as well as Alpha Xavien and Alpha Garvin.
[So Remy was acting as the mediator today.]
Alpha Sebastian took his seat with his usual cool detachment.
Celina tensed when she saw Alpha Xavien, fearing he might lash out again.
Alpha Xavien’s eyes locked onto Celina with an intense, piercing gaze, as if trying to drill holes through her.
The others in the room cast subtle glances her way as well.
Celina chose to ignore the stares and, along with Beta Sawyer, took her seat at the table.
Before they arrived, Beta Sawyer had warned her that Remy enjoyed pressuring guests into drinking, and that they might need to step in to protect Alpha Sebastian from too many toasts.
“Let’s fill Alpha Sebastian’s glass first! Since you’re late, you owe a penalty drink,” Remy announced immediately, slipping into the usual drinking culture rituals.
His secretary promptly stood and filled Sebastian’s glass to the brim.
Celina
I quickly rose from my seat, a polite smile gracing my lips as I reached for the untouched drink. “Alpha Sebastian has a cold and shouldn’t be drinking. I’ll take it for him,” I offered softly.
Just as the glass neared my mouth, a firm hand intercepted it. “That won’t be necessary. Please, sit down,” Alpha Sebastian said, his voice calm yet carrying an unmistakable protective edge that made my heart flutter unexpectedly.
He gently placed the glass back on the table, and an immediate hush fell over the private dining room. The atmosphere shifted palpably, thick with unspoken tension.
I noticed Xavien’s grip on his glass tighten, knuckles whitening as his jaw clenched so tightly it looked as if he might shatter the crystal with sheer force.
Around the table, reactions varied-some exchanged subtle, knowing looks, others furrowed their brows slightly, while a few pretended not to notice the sudden shift in mood.
I sank back into my chair, feeling a little dazed by Alpha Sebastian’s intervention. I wasn’t entirely sure what game he was playing, but instinctively, I knew to follow his lead. Whatever his motives, I was determined to back him.
“Alpha Sebastian seems quite protective of his staff,” Vice President Wiley remarked with a sly, pointed smirk.
Alpha Sebastian met Wiley’s gaze with cool indifference, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You understand me well, Wiley. Since you’re so perceptive, why don’t you drink in my place?” he teased lightly, punctuating his words with a few subtle coughs to reinforce his excuse.
Wiley’s face flushed with irritation, clearly displeased but powerless to refuse. Declining would have been disrespectful to his own Alpha.
Remy’s booming laugh broke the tension. “A cold is certainly a legitimate reason to avoid alcohol,” he said jovially, signaling his secretary to stop trying to refill Alpha Sebastian’s glass.
Alpha Sebastian’s behavior was sending a clear message: he refused to be manipulated by anyone present today.
“Remy, you should have told me you were bringing guests,” Alpha Sebastian said, his polite smile failing to reach his eyes.
Beneath the surface, his gaze was icy, his meaning unmistakable-this surprise meeting was unacceptable.
Remy kept up his cheerful facade. “I intended to tell you, but I worried you might decline. Alpha Garvin has been anxious about the project funding-he’s even lost weight from the stress!” he said with a forced lightness.
Seizing the opportunity, Alpha Garvin spoke quickly, his tone earnest. “Alpha Sebastian, regarding the project loan, please reconsider. I understand recent events may have caused hesitation, but I assure you, they won’t hinder progress. Alpha Xavien and I will ensure everything runs smoothly.”
Throughout Alpha Garvin’s appeal, Xavien remained silent, his expression cold and unreadable.
Alpha Sebastian listened patiently, his face neutral, neither warm nor cold.
After a slow sip of tea, he looked up casually. “And Alpha Xavien? Nothing to add?” His gaze locked onto Xavien’s face.
An invisible pressure filled the room, thickening the air.
Xavien met Alpha Sebastian’s eyes without flinching, their silent exchange crackling with tension-like sparks flying dangerously close.
Everyone at the table grew tense, the atmosphere taut.
Alpha Garvin looked particularly nervous. He placed a steadying hand on Xavien’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “Xavien, calm down and speak properly. Remember the project.”
Finally, Xavien broke the stare and turned his gaze toward me. His eyes held a sharp, almost wounded accusation-as if I’d betrayed him.
The intensity was almost laughable, as if I owed him some grand debt.
Newsflash: I didn’t.
I returned his look with the same expression I reserved for people who cut in line at Starbucks.
The silence stretched between us, unbroken-I didn’t even blink.
Eventually, Xavien glanced back at Alpha Sebastian. “What Alpha Garvin said… reflects my position as well.”
Though his face remained cold, his voice betrayed a hint of strain beneath the surface.
Alpha Sebastian’s eyes gleamed with mockery. “What exactly did Alpha Garvin say? Sorry, my memory fails me. Would you mind repeating it, Alpha Xavien?”
Xavien’s face darkened, and he abruptly stood, ready to leave.
Alpha Garvin quickly grabbed his arm, silently urging him to stay composed.
Wiley stepped in smoothly. “Alpha, our evaluation shows the project is solid. The Chairman believes that if you reconsider, he has no objections. Alpha Garvin and Alpha Xavien came with sincere intentions today. Perhaps you could give them another chance?”
“Sincere?” Alpha Sebastian echoed, glancing at Xavien, who was being held back by Alpha Garvin. He shook his head slowly. “I don’t see it.”
Xavien’s forehead vein throbbed visibly with anger.
Sensing a confrontation about to ignite, Alpha Garvin hastily escorted Xavien out of the private room.
Inside the dining room, Remy understood the game Alpha Sebastian was playing. He was deliberately provoking Alpha Xavien-likely because of me.
Remy found the situation amusing.
Celina was beautiful, but beautiful women weren’t rare.
If Alpha Sebastian had a weakness for women, that was useful information.
“Alpha Xavien needs to learn some manners,” Remy said with mock disapproval, signaling his secretary.
“Alpha Sebastian’s soup bowl is empty. Refill it.”
The secretary immediately understood.
As she rose, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers lingering just a moment too long.
Her steps were slow and deliberate, hips swaying subtly as she approached him, holding the ladle like it was an invitation.
She leaned in with a sweet smile. “Let me get you more, Alpha.”
But Alpha Sebastian raised one hand, palm open but firm.
“That’s not necessary,” he said coolly. “We’re here to eat, not to perform.”
Remy’s face fell slightly.
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